SEIZURES
Seizures are fairly common in childhood and teen years. Seizures can be caused by high fevers or other illness that effects the brain. The seizures will usually go away after the child’s fever goes down. These types of seizures do not mean the child has epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a term given to seizures that happen more than once in a healthy child or when the child has a physical condition that causes seizures from time to time.
Seizures are caused by an abnormal discharge of electrical energy in the brain. Not all seizures are the same, a child who is in the grip of a convulsion is very obvious to anyone seeing it. But there are other kinds of seizures that may only last a very short time. These subtle signs of seizures can often be missed.
SYMPTOMS OF SEIZURES THAT ARE HARD TO RECOGNIZE:
• Child looks like they are daydreaming and not paying attention
• Child falls for no reason
• Dazed behavior
• Child does not respond for or a short period of time
• Unusually sleepy or irritable when wakened from sleep
• Head nodding
• Rapid blinking
• Child may complain that things look, sound, taste, smell or feel “funny.”
• Clusters of ‘jackknife” movements by babies who are sitting or lying down. Clusters of grabbing movements with both arms in babies lying on their backs. (Infants often make movements that resemble muscles jerks. But you want to look to see if there is a pattern. Often it is your feeling that things ‘are just not right’. Always talk to your doctor about anything that concerns you with you child.
• Sudden stomach pain followed by confusion and sleepiness
• Repeated movements that look out of place or unnatural
These additional symptoms may be seen in teenagers:
• A blank stare, followed by chewing, picking at clothes, mumbling, random movements.
Sudden fear, anger, or panic for no reason.
• Muscle jerks of arms, legs, or body, especially in the early morning.
Odd changes in the way things look, sound, smell or feel.
• Memory gaps.
• Dazed behavior. Being unable to talk or communicate for a short time.
It is important that you notify your doctor about any of the signs or symptoms mentioned above.
RESOURCES
Children’s Health, Childrens.co
Disclaimer
This information is for general purposes only and should not be construed as a substituted for professional advice from your health professional. We do not support self-diagnosis based on any information found in this fact sheet. We are not responsible for any self-diagnosis made by a reader based on information found in this fact sheet. It is merely meant to be an informational tool to present warning signs that should be brought to the attention of a medical doctor.